Partly because it was the last of Apple’s core line of devices to get the M4 chip, and partly because, well, last year’s MacBook Air M3 was (and still is) one of the best laptops we’ve tested — a future-proofed “AI computer for the masses” that could be seen as a successful culmination of Apple’s design.
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At no point can the Apple machine stop producing, however, so with the MacBook Air M4, it was apparent it would be an incremental upgrade, refining what made last year’s version great while offering a little bit more for less cost to the consumer.
The MacBook Air M4, for example, starts at $999 for the 13-inch configuration with 16GB of memory — $100 less than last year’s M3. At the same time, the hardware expands on both the low and high end, with the lowest-tier configuration of the M4 equipped with a 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU, in contrast to the 8-core M3 chip from last year.
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On the other hand, the high-end configuration offers 32GB of unified memory, which was previously capped out at 24GB on last year’s M3. This combination of improvements for base components and a lower starting cost is strategic positioning on Apple’s part to incentivize the new devices and stay competitive in an increasingly crowded market.
I am a little surprised there isn’t an option to upgrade the M4 Air with the nano-textured glass we saw on the M4 MacBook Pro, however. Maybe we’re a bit spoiled now, but the glare is noticeable enough for me to wonder why, of all the possible things you can upgrade this laptop with, that isn’t one of them.
The other thing about the display I don’t love is the notch for the camera, which results in a chunk of otherwise valuable screen real estate blacked out where the lens is located. If you keep the toolbar toggled on, it’s something you can get used to, but with apps in full-screen it’s definitely noticeable.
Productivity powerhouse
While on the topic of productivity, the MacBook Air M4 excels at more than just multiple displays. For one thing, videoconferencing on the Air is a joy. The webcam’s hardware got an upgrade, from the 1080p FaceTime camera from last year to a 12MP camera on the M4 Air with Apple’s new Center Stage feature.
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We first saw Center Stage on the MacBook Pro and iMac last fall, and its addition to the Air is one of the many features that bring the ultraportable a little closer to its older Pro sibling. If you’re unfamiliar with it, Center Stage keeps you focused and centered in the frame no matter how you’re positioned, handling the visual logistics of the call with minimal input from the user.
Yes, the MacBook Pro M4 will last longer as well, but the Air is thinner and lighter and much less variable: the difference in battery drain is minimal depending on what tasks you’re putting it through (barring persistent, intense workloads).
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The bottom line is that for users who commute into the office a few times a week, you can reliably count on the MacBook Air M4 to last the whole day if you forget your charger, even if you’re taking a few video calls.
Benchmarking
Putting all that hardware to the test, the MacBook Air M4 performed very well in our benchmarking, coming in very close to both the MacBook Pro M4 and MacBook Pro M3. As these devices leave their predecessors from just a few years ago in the dust, they get a little bit closer to each other.
Cinebench 24 MC | Geekbench 6.2.2 SC | Geekbench 6.2.2 MC | |
Apple MacBook Air M4 | 888 | 3,587 | 14,972 |
Apple MacBook Pro M4 | 1,000 | 3,823 | 14,849 |
Apple MacBook Pro M3 | 906 | 3,072 | 11,623 |
Apple MacBook Pro with M1 Pro | 828 | 2,211 | 12,482 |
So what about the things I wish Apple did differently? Well, many of my gripes about the MacBook Air M4 are nothing new. For one, there are still only two USB-C ports, both of which are on the left-hand side of the device. If this felt limiting for you before, not much has changed.
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Second, Apple’s devices remain some of the most locked-down when it comes to repairability, keeping consumers strictly bound to Apple’s repair and service model by barring the use of salvaged components. The company has made strides toward a greener business model when it comes to production, but a loosening of the strict control over parts replacement would go even further.
ZDNET’s buying advice
The MacBook Air M4
Source : ZDNet